Bard, James F., Jr., Capt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.
My life was going nowhere; I quit school at 16 and was working as an IBM Operator for an insurance company. With no high school diploma, I wanted the best opportunity I could find. My brother was in the Air Force, and he seemed to like it; I decided it was best for me.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
After basic, I was sent through B-47 Aircraft Maintenance (431X1E) School at Amarillo AFB and then to my first assignment with the 91st SRW, Lockbourne AFB, OH. It was winter and cold on the flight line; I found that my previous IBM experience could get me inside to work on the new Maintenance Time Accounting program, so I took it. Several years later, the Air Force started a new career field, "Aircraft and Missile Maintenance Analysis (434X0)" being a mechanic with related experience, I was highly qualified. I then went laterally to Management Analysis (683X0) to gain pro-pay. When SAC put together the 9th SRW cadre for the SR-71 program at Beale AFB, CA, my dual qualifications in maintenance and management analyses placed me in one of the most important jobs an airman could only dream about. During this time, I went from a slick sleeve to being a Senior Master Sergeant selectee. But then my career took another turn.

During my 15 enlisted years, I spent a lot of time in night school. I took my 10th-grade education and increased it to three years of college. I was approved for Operation Bootstrap and was off to the University of Nebraska at Omaha to complete my degree requirements. While at UNO, I was selected for Officer Training School. My second career path began as a Second Lieutenant in Management Analysis. I later added the Budget field and even served for a short temporary stint as a Base Comptroller.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I did not personally see combat, but aircraft from my units flew covert reconnaissance missions over Eastern Europe and the Far East.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER A SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
We were preparing for a 90-day TDY to Morocco from Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, and needed to have Mae West vests for the trip across the Atlantic. I took a C-47 flight to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, to help load them. On the return flight, we had several guys traveling space available, including a brand new Marine Second Lieutenant. While being tossed around by a thunderstorm, we lost an engine. The 2Lt asked me what to do, and I simply said to ensure his chute straps were tight and await instructions. He turned very pale. By the time we diverted into Little Rock AFB and landed, he had shredded the leather riding crop he was carrying. I'll never understand why he took a bus rather than wait while they fixed the engine.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Tough question. 50th TFW, Hahn AB, Germany. Best boss ever - LtCol Tom Kuhn. It also gave me the opportunity to see Europe and to live in a small German village.

I had no least favorite assignments; I even enjoyed Goose Bay and Labrador.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
This is a tough question, pinpointing a moment out of 26+ years. I'm stuck on two:

January 1966 - Watching our first SR-71 coming in.

September 1969 - Getting my brown bars after 15+ years of enlisted time.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
I have many of which I'm proud of. A few:
Went from a 10th-grade dropout to a college degree.
I went from a slick sleeve to SMSgt selectee, then to Captain.
A couple of Meritorious Service Medals felt good.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Although I was proud to receive a couple of Meritorious Service Medals, the memory of going through many, many, Operational Readiness Inspections (ORI) with positive outcomes meant that we were doing our job.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Hal Austin (Colonel, USAF, Retired, Deceased), then a Major, was the Chief of Maintenance that took me in as an A3C and trusted me to make the time accounting system work. I did not let him down. Incidentally, about a year before I met Colonel Austin, he and his RB-47E were being fired upon and hit by MIG17s over Russia. When I saw the dedication to duty of the Strategic Air Command personnel, I knew there was something special about the job, and I wanted to be part of it.

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
I am in touch with about 200 guys from the 91st SRW through our Association. The best part was our annual reunions which ended in 2021 (age caught up to us). Some names are:
Don Furlong
Jerry Lawrence (Deceased)
Hal Austin (Deceased)
Art Schocken (Deceased)

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
I recall a subordinate telling me he was late for work because his gas tank fell off. Since he was often late, I decided to call him on his latest tale. I had him get in my car, and we drove to where he said it happened. I figured I had him on this one - until I saw his car with the gas tank lying beside it.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I retired from the Air Force with 26 years of active service. The following year I took a civilian position at the Westinghouse Defense Electronics Division, Air Force Plant Representative Office, in Cost and Schedule performance measurements and later in Logistics Management.

Nine years later, the number and scope of Air Force contracts declined. I then went to work for the Baltimore District, Army Corps of Engineers, as an Information Systems Planner.

I retired on December 31, 1999. I now serve as Secretary, 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing Association; it's practically a full-time job.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I am a member of the following: 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing Association. This Strategic Air Command wing was active from 1948-1957, and it was my first assignment. The Association was formed in 1995, and I learned of it in 2000. Since 2004 I have served as its secretary. We have annual reunions across the country and have put up many plaques and placed a memorial bench to honor our fallen. After 50 years, the camaraderie is amazing.

Sampson Air Force Base Veterans Association (SAFBVA). SAFB served as an Air Force Basic Training facility from 1950-1956. Graduates and the permanent party now get together once a year at what is now Sampson State Park in New York.

SAFBVA Maryland Regional Squadron - a sub-element of the large Association. I am currently the Commander. We have meetings around the state to just socialize and swap tales.

American Legion - Life Member, Carroll Post 31, Maryland. Great for socializing.

B-47 Stratojet Association.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
My entire adult life has been guided and shaped by both the discipline and camaraderie instilled by my Air Force experiences. The Air Force taught me that hard work brings rewards, but, more important, it also taught me that you must have confidence that your fellow man will do the right thing.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE AIR FORCE?
Always look out for your buddies; don't let them do the wrong thing. Provide advice and assistance without being asked.

Always look for ways to improve yourself, making you more useful to the Air Force.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

91st SRWA Reunion April 2000

TWS has given me the opportunity to continually remind myself that there will always be young Americans willing to take up the gauntlet and fight the good fight. And, every now and then, I run into an old-timer on TWS that also remembers.

KC 8.8.22